Referral Criteria Traffic Light System

Who do we see/What can we support with

Green	Orange	Red
EMHPs/CWPs can work with individuals/groups to provide interventions in cases of….	EMHPs/CWPs MAY work with individuals/groups to provide interventions in cases of…. Discretion and close supervision required	EMHPs/CWPs CANNOT work with individuals/groups to provide interventions in cases of…. Significant levels of need. Complex conditions requiring ongoing referral problems – counselling is best practice for interpersonal dynamics
Behavioural difficulties – identification and support with CYP or brief parenting support. These include supporting regulation and understanding of irritability , anger, frustration.	Behavioural difficulties, identification and support with CYP or brief parenting support, which may include Parent-Led interventions supporting moderate disruptive, confrontational, or controlling actions.	Conduct disorder, severe anger presentations where there is complexity, risk to others and significant risk management. Significant attachment difficulties or developmental trauma/PTSD.
Training parents and teachers to support interventions with children	Training parents and teachers to support interventions with mild/moderate mental health needs. Support staff to help co-facilitate a full parenting programme.	Training parents and teachers to support interventions with significant levels of co-morbidity, complexity or risk. Treatment of parental mental health/wellbeing.
Low mood	Irritability/ anger as a symptom of depression. Promoting self-esteem, increasing motivation and engagement for children/young people.	Chronic depression, severe depressive episodes. Moderate to severe anger management. Bereavement.
Anxiety, worry management and avoidance, mild social anxiety or health anxiety	Anxiety disorder symptoms resulting in moderate impact on functioning or mild/moderate levels of risk.	Chronic anxiety and severe anxious episodes resulting in severe impact on functioning or high levels of risk.
Emerging phobias and phobic responses displaying typical fight, flight, freeze adrenaline responses	Complex/specific phobias such as, agoraphobia, vomit or needle phobias.	Phobias resulting in severe impact on engagement or participation.  Hemophobia
Obsessive, intrusive or ritualistic thinking patterns that could be considered an emerging obsessive compulsive disorder	Mild/moderate obsessive and compulsive symptoms, not exceeding 1 hour/day. Young people displaying obsessive and ritualistic symptoms that may be in the context of neurodiversity.	Obsessive-compulsive disorder exceeding 1 hour/day or presenting with severe impact on functioning.
Panic-like symptoms or panic attacks	Young people displaying panic symptoms that may be in the context of neurodiversity or other mental health need.	Chronic panic and anxiety episodes or high levels of risk.
Thoughts of self-injury, risk assessment. Support with alternative coping strategies.  Young people with history of self-injury but not active.	Self-injury not requiring significant medical attention, e.g. first aid, safety planning and support with healthy coping alternatives.  Suicidal ideation without clear intentions or plans to harm self.	Severe and active self-injury, requiring hospital assessment or significant medical treatment. High risk of serious harm to self,  others or serious intent or planning to end life.
Lifestyle management e.g. sleep hygiene, healthy eating etc.	Sleeping difficulties e.g. in the context of anxiety or other mental health difficulty.	Longstanding, debilitating sleep patterns or physical sleep abnormalities.  Chronic fatigue syndrome, pain management or medically-unexplained symptoms.
Individual problem solving, improving self-esteem and motivation.	Supporting mild to moderate emotional dysregulation, impacting on interpersonal relationships e.g. friendships.   Systemic or relationship problems – counselling is best practice for interpersonal dynamics	Systemic or relationship problems – counselling is best practice for interpersonal dynamics